Posts Tagged ‘cozy mystery’

Mysterious
attacks. Mischievous nieces.Can
a clueless uncle catch a tech-savvy killer … and be home before
bedtime?

When
a freak accident hospitalizes Marty
Golden’s sister and condemns him to
babysitter duty, he thinks it’s just another case of hardwired bad
luck in Silicon Valley.
Until a suspicious murder suggests the mishap was no mere
coincidence. Something must be done.

Convinced
his sister is in mortal danger, this
amateur sleuth follows clues to an
oddball array of suspects. Armed with nothing but an eye for detail
and powers of self-delusion, Marty
tangles with gangsters, a cantankerous school secretary, and a
perplexing woman he can’t help but fall for. Glitches in his
investigation seem like a piece of cake compared to dinner-prep and
bedtime stories with his two precocious, pre-teen nieces.

Can
Marty catch the culprit, save his sister, and get his life back in
order before he gets unplugged?

Uncle
and Ants is the first novel in
a refreshingly modern mystery series set in Silicon Valley. If you
like clever humor, sassy side characters, and average Joes facing
extraordinary circumstances, then you’ll love this twisty mystery.

Marc
Jedel writes humorous murder mysteries. In his high-tech marketing
roles, he’s also written fiction. These are just called emails, ads,
and marketing collateral.

In
his family, Marc was born first — a fact his sister never lets him
forget, no matter what milestone age she hits. For most of Marc’s
life, he’s been inventing stories. Some, especially when he was
young, involved his sister as the villain. As his sister’s brother
for her entire life, he feels highly qualified to tell tales of the
evolving, quirky sibling relationship in the Silicon Valley Mystery
series.

Family
and friends would tell you that the protagonist in his stories, Marty
Golden, isn’t much of a stretch of the imagination for Marc, but he
proudly resembles that remark.

Like
Marty, Marc lives in San Jose, the heart of Silicon Valley, where he
writes within earshot of the doppler effect of the local ice cream
truck. Unlike Marty, Marc has a wonderful wife and a neurotic but
sweet, small dog, who much prefers the walks resulting from writer’s
block than his writing.

Visit
his website, marcjedel.com, for free chapters of upcoming novels,
news and more.

“It’s
Harriet’s fault. It’s always her fault, not that she’ll ever
admit it.” So begins A Spell of Murder: A Witch Cats of Cambridge
mystery, the first in a new cozy series that mixes feline fiction
with a touch of the paranormal, and a little romance as well.

Becca,
newly single and newly unemployed, wants to believe she has psychic
powers. With nothing but time – and a desire for empowerment –
she’s studying to become a witch. What she doesn’t know is that
her three cats – Harriet, Laurel, and Clara – are the ones with
the real power. And when Harriet – “a cream-colored longhair with
more fur than commonsense” – conjures a pillow for her own
comfort, Becca believes her spells are finally working. Could that be
why Trent, the coven’s devilishly handsome leader, has been showing
her special attention? Or why Suzanne, a longtime coven member, draws
her aside to share a secret – a confidence that may lead to murder?

A Spell of Murder by Clea Simon is unique and different from all the stories I have read. This story is told through the eyes of tone of the three sister cats that are magic, Clara. They live with a young woman, Rebecca Callwin, and she doesn’t know about their abilities. One time, Harriet, one of the cats, accidentally summons a pillow while Becca has her magic group with her and she is saying a spell. Now, “The Coven” believes Becca is a real witch.

The main character is Clara the younger sister cat. The whole story is told by a narrator who tell what each character is feeling. The three cats are able to do magic and go through things, but usually it is Clara who follows her owner to keep an eye on her and what is going on in her world. On one of these trips, they find Becca’s friend dead. When Becca become the number one suspect the cats help her find the killer.

This is a great, cozy mystery with the right amount of death and suspects. It may feel off to a person who doesn’t care for cats, because it takes time to give personality to the felines, along with telling the story. Some may find it intrusive, but I believe it adds to the story in a good way. It is great reading for anyone who likes cozy mysteries and animals.

Clea
Simon is the author of “A Spell of Murder,” the first in
her new “Witch Cats of Cambridge” series. She is also the
author of “World Enough,” a rock ‘n’ roll noir, as well as
the Blackie and Care series (most recently “Cross My Path”)
chronicling the adventures of the pink-haired Care and the black
feral cat who loves her. In addition to these darker books, she is
also the author of the Dulcie Schwartz feline mysteries, the Pru
Marlowe pet noir mysteries, and the Theda Krakow mysteries, as well
as three nonfiction books, including The Feline Mystique: On the
Mysterious Connection Between Women and Cats.

The
recipient of multiple honors, including the Cat Writers Associations
Presidents Award, she lives in Somerville, Massachusetts, with her
husband, Jon Garelick, and their cat, Musetta.

“Smart,
entertaining, and laugh-out-loud funny!”—Liliana
Hart, New York Times Bestselling Author

Valentine
Beaumont is a beautician with a problem. Not only has she got a
meddling mother, a wacky staff, and a dying business, but now she’s
got a dead client who was strangled while awaiting her facial.

With
business the way it is, combing through this mystery may be the only
way to save her salon. Until a second murder, an explosion, a
kidnapping, death threats, and the hard-nosed Detective Romero
complicate things. But Valentine will do anything to untangle the
crime. That’s if she can keep her tools of the trade in her bag,
keep herself alive, and avoid falling for the tough detective.

Valentine
Beaumont is back in her second hair-raising mystery, this time,
trying to find out who had it in for an elderly nun. Only trouble is
there are others standing in her way: hot but tough Detective Romero,
sexy new stylist Jock de Marco, and some zany locals who all have a
theory on the nun’s death.

Making
things worse: the dead nun’s secret that haunts Valentine, another
murder, car chases, death threats, mysterious clues, an interfering
mother, and a crazy staff.

Between
brushing off Jock’s advances and splitting hairs with handsome
Detective Romero, Valentine struggles to comb through the crime,
utilizing her tools of the trade in some outrageous situations.
Question is, will she succeed?

“Sharp,
sexy, and side-splitting. Everything I love in a good mystery!” –Darynda
Jones, New York Times/USA Today Bestselling Author of the Charley
Davidson Series

“A
fun-filled ride. A zany cast of characters. And a quest to find a
killer. Another great book in a wonderful series!” –Wendy
Byrne, USA Today Bestselling Author of the Izzy Lewis Mysteries

In
her third fast-paced mystery, beautician Valentine Beaumont and her
madcap crew sail the high seas on a Caribbean “Beauty Cruise.”
When a bizarre murder takes place onboard, Valentine finds herself
swept into the middle of the investigation.

If
things aren’t bad enough, her mother is playing matchmaker, a loved
one is kidnapped, drug smuggling is afoot, a hair contest proves
disastrous, and a strange alliance between tough Detective Romero and
sexy stylist Jock de Marco rubs Valentine the wrong way.

Will
this impulsive beauty sleuth comb through the catastrophes and
untangle the mystery, or will this voyage turn into another fatal
Titanic? With Jock and Romero onboard, it’s destined to be a hot
cruise!

Arlene
McFarlane is the author of the Murder, Curlers series.
Previously an aesthetician, hairstylist, and owner of a full-service
salon, Arlene now writes full time. When she’s not making up
stories, or being a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, cat-mom,
or makeover artist, you’ll find her making music on the piano.

Arlene
is a member of Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Toronto
Romance Writers, SOWG, and the Golden Network. She’s won and placed
in over 30 contests, including twice in the Golden Heart and twice in
the Daphne du Maurier.

Eric
Beckman, a mind-reading private investigator, is spending Christmas
in snowy Vermont with his wife and daughter. He needs a break from
solving cases, but the townspeople convince him to look into the
village mystery: Every holiday season, someone switches the baby
Jesus with one of the other figures in the town’s nativity
scene.

With
the help of his ten-year-old daughter, also a mind reader, he soon
learns that some of the residents of the small town are not who—or
even what—they seem to be. There’s something supernatural going
on in Newburn, Vermont.

His
investigation causes an escalation of strange happenings, and soon,
swapped manger figures are the least of the town’s worries. If
Beckman can’t adjust his view of the world—force himself to
believe in things he never thought possible—the Christmas vacation
could turn out to be his family’s last.

A
Mind Reader’s Christmasmay
be read as a standalone book or as Book Four in the Eric Beckman
series.

Private
Investigator Eric Beckman hates politics. He doesn’t even watch the
news—it’s just sensationalized stories crafted to sell
commercials. Why should he care?

But
that changes when a friend is shot in the head during a politically
motivated break-in. Eric starts digging, and using his paranormal
mind-reading skills, he soon discovers that Wilson Kingman, the
presidential candidate behind the burglary, has some supernatural
skills of his own. With one sweep of his mesmerizing gaze, he’s able
to secure the fanatical devotion of the thousands who attend his
rallies–including the very people investigating him.

Worse,
Kingman’s true motivations have nothing to do with leading the free
world. With the clock ticking down toward election day, Beckman must
overcome his aversion to politics and stop the wrong man from being
elected. If he fails, millions will die.

Democracy’s
Thief is a standalone book which may be enjoyed without
reading any of the other books in the series.

Private
detective Eric Beckman can read minds. He’s used to weird cases, but
this one may be his most difficult yet. A beloved relative has
disappeared into a suspicious psychiatric hospital and Eric has no
choice but to go in after her.

Getting
in is easy—he knows how to fake insanity. Getting out … not so
much.

The
asylum’s director has some personality issues of his own and is doing
more than just treating patients. Now that Eric is one of them, his
mind may be headed for a fate worse than death.

His
only hope for escape is to work together with the other inmates. But
collaborating with schizophrenics has its own challenges, even when
he knows what they’re thinking. Unless he can get word to the
outside, the case could cost him his sanity.

Sanity’s
Thief is a standalone book and may be understood and enjoyed without
reading any of the other books in the series.

Although
he reads only the conscious thoughts of the people he interviews, it
usually gives him enough of an edge to overcome his inexperience as a
PI. But mind reading is hell on relationships. Trusting comes hard
when you know what people are really thinking.

The
case of his life lands in his lap when a
beautiful woman materializes during a televised baseball game. She
floats in midair, then drops to the ground, comatose.

Beckman
is at her bedside when she wakes up. From the moment she opens her
eyes, she has him under her spell. He vows to figure out where—or
when—she came from, even if it kills him.

The
stakes increase when she disappears without a trace. Worse, she holds
the key to a worldwide energy catastrophe. If Beckman can’t find
her and unlock her secrets, economies will collapse, and the world
will spiral down into chaos.

Al
Macy writes because he has stories to tell. In school he was the
class clown and always the first volunteer for show and tell. His
teachers would say “Al has a lot of imagination.” Then they’d
roll their eyes.

But
he put his storytelling on the back burner until he retired and wrote
a blog about his efforts to improve his piano sight-reading. That’s
when his love of storytelling burbled up to the surface, along with
quirky words like “burble.”

He
had even more fun writing his second book, Drive,
Ride, Repeat, but was bummed by non-fiction’s need
to stick to “the truth” (yucko). From then on it was fiction all
the way, with a good dose of his science background burbling to the
surface.

Macy’s
top priority is compelling storylines with satisfying plot twists,
but he never neglects character development. No, wait … his top
priority is quirkiness, then compelling storylines, then character
development. No, wait …

Murder? Romance? Intrigue? The Desert Oasis runs rampant with gossip and secrets.
Sweetie Bastard told Hunny Bunny—pack your bags we’re moving to lovely Tucson, Arizona. She didn’t have a choice. He sold her house and bought a park model online sight unseen in the Desert Oasis 55 plus community.
The park was more asphalt than oasis—hot—dry—terrible.
The trailer was a wreck. No air-conditioning. No beautiful view of the San Francisco Bay.
There’s an Arizona room to build. A golf cart to buy. Dances, crafts and funerals to attend.
Bunny agrees to take water aerobics. She hates water.
First lesson—the park’s ladies’ man athletic director was found weighed down and dead at the bottom of the swimming pool. Who killed philandering Dan? And why?
The last tenant in their new home, Wanda, left behind her clothes, knickknacks and dishes. The place gives her the willies. Bunny can’t stand an unsolved mystery, and she’ll dig deep and wide to solve Wanda’s case.
Download Alpaca My Bags today. Will Bunny agree to live happily ever after in the Oasis, or will she make Sweetie Bastard move to posh Scottsdale?

Giveaway

About the author

I grew up in Arkansas, just a few miles from Louisiana. Violet Patton was a grandmother. I took her name as a pen name in her honor. She didn’t read much and when she did it was True Confessions magazine. She married a man twice her age at 18 and she did not have romance in her life, but she longed for it. She was tough, picking cotton, milking cows and tending a garden to keep her family alive. Behind her toughness was a sweet tenderness which showed through her beautiful blue eyes. Now as I age, I miss her more and more. Her photograph graces my desk, and I often ask for her advice or read my stories aloud to her. I can hear her laugh as I read my stories and I remember that spirit she never lost despite her adversities.

Georgia
Thackery is feeling pretty good about her summer job teaching at
prestigious Overfeld College, and she’s renting a rustic cabin
right by a lake for herself, her daughter, Madison, and her best
friend, Sid the Skeleton. Together again, the trio are enjoying the
quiet when a teenager named Jen shows up looking for her friend.
Georgia doesn’t recognize the name, but she learns that the person
Jen was looking for is actually Sid.

Sid
reveals that he and Jen are part of a regular online gaming group
that formed locally, and one of their members has gone missing. Sid
admits that he might have bragged about his investigative prowess,
enough so that Jen wants him to find their missing player. Given that
Sid doesn’t have many friends offline—none, really, unless you
count the Thackery family—Georgia agrees to help him search. They
manage to discreetly enlist Jen, who lives in town, and follow the
clues to… a dead buddy.

Now
they’ve got a killer on their hands. Probing the life of Sid’s
friend, they realize a lot is wrong both on campus and in the
seemingly quaint town, and someone doesn’t want them looking
deeper.

ThoughLeigh Perry was born in Pensacola, FL and raised in Charlotte,
NC, she has been living north of Boston, MA for 26 years or so. She
shares the house with her husband, two daughters, two guinea pigs,
and a ludicrous selection of books. While the population of people
and guinea pigs stays constant, the number of books is on an
ever-rising curve. Under the name Toni L.P. Kelner, she’s published
eleven novels and twenty-something short stories, as well as
co-edited six urban fantasy anthologies with New York Times
bestseller Charlaine Harris.

COZY MYSTERY….Anne is excited for the opening of the Brandywine Inn. Kandi and Hope are her partners in the bed-and-breakfast in Carolan Springs, Colorado, where they also provide homesteading and herbal workshops for guests.
As soon as the guests arrive, it’s plain that the five old college chums have bad blood between them. When Anne finds a threatening note, it’s clear that someone is out for revenge. Then they find a guest dead. At first, the death appears to be natural, but suspicions begin to grow.
When a blizzard threatens the Inn, will it trap them all with a killer and no way out?

The Character Interview:

Hope, can you share with our readers about yourself?

Certainly. I live above the shop of an herbal apothecary I own in Carolan Springs, Colorado. I’m also a medical doctor.. My mother, Faith, lives with me and I care for her. I’m an only child and I moved back to care for my mother when she started having health issues. I love living in a small town and I love Colorado. I’m in the perfect place for the life I want to live and the work I want to do. I have a new intern, Autumn, so that’s helping me to expand into other areas of interest.

You’ve recently opened a bed-and-breakfast with your friends. Can you tell us about that?

My father, Ralph Rogers, passed away, and I inherited his house. I didn’t know for years that Ralph was my father, so it surprised me when he left me the home in his will. The house is a huge, old Victorian that probably stood by itself for many years before the other homes went up around it. Anne, who has become a good friend, and Kandi, another friend, talked about the possibility of opening a bed-and-breakfast in the house. As they live on either side of the house, it works well for them. Anne has written and taught about suburban homesteading while Kandi is a great cook. Plus, I get to do teaching on herbs through workshops we hold there. It’s called the Brandywine Inn as Ralph was a big fan of Brandywine tomatoes. In the summer we open it up primarily for tourists and those who come for the homesteading fair. Then we can hold workshops in the spring and fall.

Tell us about where you live.

I live in the small mountain town of Carolan Springs in Colorado. (Don’t try to find it on a map as it’s only in the author’s imagination). I have to say the weather here in Colorado takes some getting used to. There can be a snowstorm in the morning and by the afternoon, lots of bright sunshine and warm temperatures. The key is to wear layers at any time of the year! I finally learned that after living here for a few years. I’m excited about spring because it’s that shoulder season when it’s normally crisp morning and sunny days. It’s a great time for hiking and seeing all the early wildflowers popping up and sometimes even mushrooms. We’re incorporating hike opportunities for our guests.

Can you tell us a bit more about Carolan Springs and its inhabitants?

It’s a fairly small town—around 3500 people—and just like everywhere else, you have many characters. My shop is along the main street filled with little shops and everyone is usually nice though we have some cranky folks just like any other town. I think Sheriff Carson and Anne should just get on with it and become a couple because they’re both so stubborn that they’d be a perfect match. But don’t tell them I said anything. Problem is they’ll probably end up with others. Oh well, what can you do? I’m sure you’ll find out more about the town’s residents in future stories.

You mentioned the author, what can you tell us about her?

Well, she was born in Chicago but spent most of her life in Texas—around the San Antonio area. But just like me, she loves Colorado’s mountains. She grows and uses herbs and making her own tinctures, tonics, and salves. She loves the basic edible herbs like basil, cilantro, dill, and others. A few of her favorite medicinal herbs are astragalus and osha for tinctures along with comfrey she uses in salves. In addition to writing mysteries, she’s also written nonfiction books. She loves everything about being a suburban homesteader or what some call backyard farming. She’s a certified permaculture designer, has chickens and beehives and gardens of various types.

Hope, can you tell us what’s next for the series?

We’ve all been talking about getting beehives for the property, so we can offer honey to our guests. Having bees on the property will also help with all the gardens we want to install. I wouldn’t be surprised to see one of those being a part of the next book in the series.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I can’t think of anything. Though my mother (Faith) says she has a bad feeling about our opening weekend at the bed-and-breakfast. She has second-sight so that’s a bit disconcerting that she says she has a bad feeling. But I’m sure it’s nothing. I hope.

About the author

Vikki’s first words were “I get it!” This attitude became her life-long mantra to always go after what she wants. It also helped her realize her desire to help others get what they really want out of life.

After spending years as a registered interior designer, Vikki began to write. While writing for periodicals, Vikki found herself on assignment interviewing publishers in Colorado Springs. It wasn’t long before the natural beauty of Colorado captured her heart.

After moving to Colorado, Vikki worked with nonprofits. However, she soon realized she needed more autonomy in her work.

Vikki started her own business as a nonprofit consultant and grant writer. She has helped nonprofits across the U.S. to receive millions of dollars for their work. Yet, she realized doing one thing wouldn’t satisfy her for long.

Vikki became a Work Quilter™ combining her many passions to create multiple income streams. She started speaking and teaching adults on myriad and diverse topics around her knowledge, skills and passions. She’s taught and spoken on Creative Writing, Design for Heart and Home, Fundraising Fundamentals , Suburban Homesteading, Permaculture, How to Get What You Really Want, and of course, Work Quilting. Two words that continually appear on instructor and speaker feedback forms are “engaging” and “knowledgeable.”

Born in Chicago, Vikki lived outside of Paris for a few years as a small child. That may account for her love of travel. She moved to Wichita with her parents before going on to live most of her life around the San Antonio, Texas area. She is the founder of #girlswantago and you can connect through Facebook or www.girlswantago.com

Vikki’s favorite genre is mystery so it wasn’t long before she had begun her first cozy mystery series. Incorporating her love of suburban homesteading, or as some call it, backyard farming, Vikki’s first book is Chicken Culprit.

You’ll most often find Vikki out hiking with her dog, outside gardening, traveling abroad, house or pet sitting, or writing her next book.

​

Vikki, tell us where you were born

I was born in Chicago, IL but spent most of my life in San Antonio, Texas.

What is the most difficult thing about being an author?

Sitting down and writing. I love thinking up the story or planning out a book, but you have to sit down day and day and spill your created worlds onto the page. I’ve never had writers block but I have writers procrastination.

Who has made the greatest difference for you as a writer?

I would have to say other authors. They drew me into their imagination and opened up worlds for me. The most important way to learn writing is to read, read, read.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

I love cozy mysteries and I’m a suburban homesteader. That means, even though I live in a typical home with a front and back yard, my backyard is a conglomerate of various gardens and I have chickens and beehives. My front yard is based on permaculture—I’m a certified permaculture designer and is pollinator-friendly. I also preserve food through canning, make herbal preparations and many other things that harken back to simpler times. Thus, I decided that my mysteries would center around giving a glimpse into each of these areas. The books are under my backyard farming series. You don’t have to be involved in homesteading to enjoy the stories, but you may learn a thing or two you hadn’t known before.

What is the name of your new book?

Cordial Killing

Tell us more about it.

Cordial Killing is a classic who-dun-it with a twist. The theme for this book is herbs and herbal preparations.

What genre does your book fall under?

Small town cozy mystery with an amateur sleuth.

What other books would you compare it to?

The China Bayles Herbal Mystery Series, series around bed and breakfasts, gardening series. For the backyard farming piece, the Brie Hooker Mysteries by Linda Lovely, Wendy Tyson’s Greenhouse Mysteries and the Dewberry Farm Mystery series by Karen MacInerney. For the Colorado setting, Diana Mott Davidson’s books.

What kind of impact do you expect your works to have in the reader’s lives?

First I hope that the book’s help the reader to escape from everyday life just for a bit and to be entertained. I also want to share a little bit of insight on modern homesteading and how fun it is to feel a bit self-sufficient or to learn something that you may not have known.

Vegans or those who don’t have access to good local raw honey can substitute maple syrup. Acquiring local honey will provide your cordial with its own unique flavor.

Optional

Cinnamon stick

One

Flavor along with Antioxidants and Anti-Inflammatory properties

Rosehips

¼ cup

Extra Vitamin C

Ginger

1-2 tbsp grated fresh ginger

Flavor along with Antioxidants

Instructions

Place elderberries (and any optional ingredients, if using) into quart jar.

Cover with brandy.

Add honey.

Stir with wooden spoon or put lid on and shake.

Place in dark, cool space (usually a cabinet will do) for three to four weeks.

If desired, strain with cheesecloth and using a strainer, put into a decorative bottle.

Or you can leave ingredients in jar.

In winter take 1-2 tbsp daily for immune-boosting. If ill, take 3-4 tbsp (basically a shot glass) a few times a day until symptoms improve. This cordial can also be used as a base for poor-tasting tinctures such as osha.

Can last for a year with fresh berries and longer if made with dried berries—if you have it that long!

Notes

Elderberry is a wonderful plant to have in your yard or on your property. It has many medicinal benefits and uses. The elderberry plant most commonly associated with immune-boosting and flu-fighting properties is the dark berry plant (Elderberry Sambucus Nigra). Elder flower is also used in elixirs, teas and food. Elder was the International Herb Association’s Herb of the Year in 2013. It’s usually harvested in September.

This Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Winter has
come to Wildwood Cove, and riding in on the chill is Wally Fowler.
Although he’s been away for years, establishing his reputation as
the self-proclaimed Waffle King, the wealthy blowhard has returned to
the coastal community to make money, not friends—by pitting his hot
and trendy Waffle Kingdom against Marley McKinney’s cozy pancake
house, The Flip Side. Wally doesn’t see anything wrong in a little
healthy competition, until he’s murdered in his own state-of-the
art kitchen.

Marley isn’t
surprised when the authorities sniff around The Flip Side for a
motive, but it’s her best friend Lisa who gets grilled, given her
sticky history with the victim. When a second murder rocks the town,
it makes it harder than ever for Marley to clear Lisa’s name.
Marley’s afraid that she’s next in line to die—and the way
things are looking, the odds of surviving her investigation could be
stacked against her.

In this story you will find an interesting, cozy mystery, full of twists and the right amount of mystery. The characters are well rounded and likable. The writing is great and entertaining. I would recommend it to all lovers of murder mysteries and cozy murders everywhere. It is a clean and a nice work of art.

Marley McKinney is the owner of the only breakfast Pancake shop in Wildwood Cove, that is until Wally Fowler, the Waffle King, returns to town to be her competitor. The problems start when the king is found dead and Marley’s best friends are on the list of suspected murderers.

Sarah
Fox is the author of the Music Lover’s Mystery series and the USA
Today bestselling Pancake House Mystery series. When not writing
novels or working as a legal writer, she can often be found reading
her way through a stack of books or spending time outdoors with her
English Springer Spaniel. Sarah lives in British Columbia and is a
member of Crime Writers of Canada.

Best
friends Tallie Graver and Gina Laudermilch both seem to spend a lot
of time around urns. For Tallie, they’re part and parcel of the
family business, Graver’s Funeral Home. Even though she’s traded
ashes for dusting with her own cleaning business, she still works
part-time for her folks and lives above the funeral parlor. For Gina,
they’re the vessels that con-tain her heavenly brew at her coffee
shop, Bean There, Done That. And both women are learning that owning
a business can make finding time for romance challenging.

But
when Gina’s new beau turns out to have a wife, who barges into the
coffee shop to take him home, she can’t contain her bitterness and
loudly threatens to poison his cup or boil him in a vat of coffee. So
when Mr. Wrong turns up dead at the bottom of a staircase inside
Gina’s locked home, she finds herself at the top of the police’s
suspect list. Tallie needs to sweep in to save her friend. But she’ll
need to watch her step, or she may go from being a funeral home
employee to becoming their next client . . .

For
Tallulah Graver, marrying wealthy Waldo Phillips seemed like the best
way out of the family business, the Graver Funeral Home. But when her
marriage falls apart and Tallie is left with next to nothing, she
turns to cleaning houses to make ends meet. As humbling as it is to
tidy the mansions of the snobby socialites she used to call friends,
at least she doesn’t have to be around dead bodies. Until . . .

She
discovers one of her employers lying in a closet with a knife
sticking out of her chest. This unpleasant shock seems to be part of
a web of weird experiences: Tallie’s friend Gina’s shop is broken
into, her ex is stun-gunned where it hurts the most, and now she’s
receiving flowers from the dead woman. Granted the deliveryman is
handsome, but seriously, that’s enough to cast a pall over anyone’s
day. Now Tallie needs to dig deep to clean up this mess—before she
finds herself in a grave situation.

“You’ll
be cheering as the clues pileup in this creative cozy mystery.”
—New York
Times bestselling
author Lynn Cahoon

Ground for Remorse is a cozy murder mystery by Misty Simon. Talli’s best friend Gina is suspect of killing the Gigolo with whom she had a couple of dates, and Talli has to clear her name. It seems as if Talli has a knack at catching murderers as shown in a previous book. She helps the police find the murderer the police didn’t have a clue. In this story, things get worse during the Gigolo’s funeral. A woman is found in the floor of the room where they will have lunch, a new wife appears as does another woman who is pregnant with his child. There aren’t many suspects in his murder and all the clues point directly at Gina.

Ground for Remorse is a great murder mystery with the right amount of bodies and suspense. It is a cozy mystery with a few cases of unnecessary swearing. It has quirky characters that enhance the tale, bits of humor and a lot of surprises.

All in all, I enjoyed the story and the characters. It is a fast paced book and moves flawlessly to the last page. In it you will find a great read for a afternoon in the sun or by the fireplace.

Misty
Simon is the author of Cremains of the Day and Grounds
for Remorse in the Tallie Graver Mystery series. She loves a
good story and decided one day that she would try her hand at it.
Eventually she got it right. There’s nothing better in the world
than making someone laugh, and she hopes everyone at least snickers
in the right places when reading her books. She lives with her
husband, daughter and three insane dogs in Central Pennsylvania where
she is hard at work on her next novel or three.

“Cute
and cuddly on the outside, murder and mayhem on the inside . . .
Totally adorable.” —Duffy Brown on Bearly
Departed

As
autumn air settles into the quaint small town of Silver Hollow,
there’s nothing more popular than Sasha’s teddy bears—and
murder in cold blood . . .

Silver
Bear Shop and Factory manager Sasha Silverman is cozying up to the
fall season by hosting Silver Hollow’s Cranbeary Tea Party, the
opening event of the village’s Oktobear Fest—a too-cute
celebration themed around teddy bears. She barely has a moment to
agonize over the return of her former high school rival, Holly
Parker, whose new toy and bookstore in town could spell big trouble
for the Silver Bear Shop and her cousin’s small bookstore . . .

But
when Sasha discovers Holly’s shop assistant dead with a knife
plunged in her body, the unpleasant woman suddenly looks like a real
backstabber. So does Sasha’s ex-husband, rumored to have rekindled
the fiery extramarital affair he once had with the victim. Now,
before a gruesome homicide case takes the fun out of both the Fest
and her personal life, Sasha must identify the true culprit from a
daunting suspect list—or risk becoming as lifeless as one of her
stuffed bears . . .

The
Silver Bear Shop and Factory might be the cutest place around, but
there’s nothing warm and fuzzy about murder . . .

As
manager of the family teddy bear shop and factory,
thirty-one-year-old Sasha Silverman leads a charmed life. Well,
except for the part about being a single divorcée with a ticking
biological clock in small-town Silver Hollow. And that’s just kid’s
stuff compared to Will Taylor, the sales rep who’s set on making
drastic changes to the business her parents built from scratch—with
or without Sasha’s approval . . .

But
before Will digs his claws in, someone pulls the stuffing out of his
plan . . . and leaves his dead body inside the factory. Reeling from
shock, Sasha’s hit with more bad news—police suspect her
hot-tempered Uncle Ross may have murdered him. Sasha knows her uncle
would never do such a thing, and she’s launching her own little
investigation to expose the truth. As she tracks Will’s biggest
rivals and enemies for clues, Sasha can’t get too comfy—or she’ll
become the next plaything for a killer . . .

“A
twisty mystery tale with a likable protagonist and a colorful
supporting cast. Sure to be a very enjoyable series!”—Livia J.
Washburn, bestselling author of Black
and Blueberry Die

“Cute
and cuddly on the outside, murder and mayhem on the inside—I love
this book!!! Totally adorable.”—Duffy Brown, bestselling author
of Braking
for Bodies

Meg
Macy is an award-winning author and artist. Her first published
book, Double Crossing, won the 2012 Spur Award for Best First
Novel from Western Writers of America. Meg is also one-half of the
writing team of D.E. Ireland, authors of the Eliza and Henry Higgins
Mystery series—of which two titles have been Agatha Award
finalists. Meg lives in Southeastern Michigan, the setting for her
Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear mysteries.

If there’s a dead
body anywhere in Provincetown, wedding consultant Sydney Riley is
going to be the one to find it! The seaside town’s annual
Portuguese Festival is approaching and it looks like smooth sailing
until Sydney’s neighbor decides to have some construction done in
her home—and finds more than she bargained for inside her wall.

Now Sydney is again
balancing her work at the Race Point Inn with an unexpected adventure
that will eventually involve fishermen, gunrunners, a mummified cat,
a family fortune, misplaced heirs, a girl with a mysterious past, and
lots and lots of Portuguese food. The Blessing of the Fleet is
coming up, and unless Sydney can find the key to a decades-old
murder, it might yet come back to haunt everyone in this
otherwise-peaceful fishing village.

Jeannette
de Beauvoir grew up in Angers, France, but has lived in the United
States since her twenties. (No, she’s not going to say how long ago
that was!) She spends most of her time inside her own head, which is
great for writing, though possibly not so much for her social life.
When she’s not writing, she’s reading or traveling… to inspire
her writing.

The
author of a number of mystery and historical novels (some of which
you can see on Amazon, Goodreads, Criminal Element, HomePort Press,
and her author website), de Beauvoir’s work has appeared in 15
countries and has been translated into 12 languages. Midwest Review
called her Martine LeDuc Montréal series “riveting (…)
demonstrating her total mastery of the mystery/suspense genre.” She
is currently writing a Provincetown Theme Week cozy mystery series
featuring female sleuth Sydney Riley.

De
Beauvoir’s academic background is in history and religion, and the
politics and intrigue of the medieval period have always fascinated
her (and provided her with great storylines!). She coaches and edits
individual writers, teaches writing online and on Cape Cod, and
thinks Aaron Sorkin is a god. Her cat, Beckett, totally disagrees.

Madison
Reynolds is looking forward to a few days of rest and relaxation. Her
best friend Genny is judging a celebrity bake-off near DC, so it’s
the perfect opportunity for a girl’s getaway. With fun-loving
Granny Bert in tow, the trio heads to the very heart of the Intel
community. Deep in alphabet soup territory—surrounded by CIA, NSA,
FBI and more—it takes only moments for things to go awry.

A
mix-up at the airport leaves Madison with the wrong luggage, and a
last-minute change in accommodations lands them at The
Columbia Inn at Peralynna.How
can they know its ties to the spy world will soon spin them into its
web?

Designed
as a CIA safe house, the inn has a fascinating history. When it seems
a mysterious man in a dark coat is following her, Madison scoffs at
her over-action imagination. She’s listened to too many spy tales,
spun by the innkeeper herself. The stories of espionage and agents
are intriguing, but too incredible to be real. The Texans know
nothing about secret codes and counterintelligence. They’ve never
heard of The Lilac Code, or the illusive agent-for-hire known simply
as Kalypso.

Back
home in The Sisters, a drama is unfolding that involves Madison’s
precious twins. She’s raised them to do the right thing, no matter
the consequence, but will their quest for justice put them in danger?

Thrust
into impossible situations of being in the wrong place at the wrong
time, the twins risk everything to save their school, while deep in
spy territory, Madison and Genny race against the clock—and the
elements—to save Granny Bert’s life.

The
award-winning The
Sisters, Texas Mystery Seriescontinues
in this exciting Book 7. This is a stand-alone book, but best when
enjoyed as a full series experience.

Becki
Willis, best known for her popular The Sisters, Texas Mystery Series
and Forgotten Boxes, always dreamed of being an author. In November
of ’13, that dream became a reality. Since that time, she has
published eleven books, won first place honors for Best Mystery
Series, Best Suspense Fiction and Best Audio Book, and has introduced
her imaginary friends to readers around the world.

An
avid history buff, Becki likes to poke around in old places and learn
about the past. Other addictions include reading, writing, junking,
unraveling a good mystery, and coffee. She loves to travel, but
believes coming home to her family and her Texas ranch is the best
part of any trip. Becki is a member of the Association of Texas
Authors, the National Association of Professional Women, and the
Brazos Writers organization. She attended Texas A&M University
and majored in Journalism.

Las
Vegas knows how to party, and for once, event planner Liv McKay won’t
be entirely behind the scenes. The Dixie gang is in Sin City to
celebrate Mama and Earl’s rockin’ Elvis-themed wedding. And
between juggling the botched bachelorette party and a problem-plagued
soirée back home, Liv’s ready to double down on some fun.

Mama
& Earl’s happily-ever-after seems like a sure thing, but all
bets (and nuptials) are off when they get to the Burning Love Wedding
Chapel. Their Elvis-impersonating minister has left the building . .
. permanently. And even worse, Liv’s cousin, Little Junior, is
suspected of his murder.

With
Mama’s happy ending on the table and Little Junior about to lose it
all, the stakes are higher than ever. Liv and her best friend, Di,
must hit the Strip to find the real killer before he finally plays
his ace…

“High
energy, dead bodies and exposed lies. . . . A must read.”

—RT
Book Reviews,
4 Stars, on Death
Crashes the Party

“A
wonderful cozy mystery.”

—Suspense
Magazine on It’s
Your Party, Die If You Want To

“Readers
should welcome this look at a very Southern lifestyle, complete with
appended party plans.”

Vickie
Fee is a past president of the Malice in Memphis chapter of
Sisters in Crime and current member of the Wisconsin Sisters in
Crime. She has a degree in journalism and spent many years as a
newspaper reporter, covering small Southern towns populated with
colorful characters, much like those in the fictional town of Dixie.
She now lives in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with her husband, John.
She grew up in the South on a steady diet of Nancy Drew and iced tea,
and when she’s not writing, Vickie enjoys reading mysteries and
watching B movies from the 1930s and ‘40s.

Since
her only daughter left for college, widow Pamela Paterson has kept
busy as associate editor of a craft magazine and founder of the Knit
and Nibble knitting club in quaint Arborville, New Jersey. Now, she’s
trying out a new hobby—solving murders!

Pamela
is hosting the next Knit and Nibble meeting and can’t wait to liven
up her otherwise empty home with colorful yarn, baking, and a little
harmless gossip. She even recruits Amy Morgan, an old friend who
recently moved to town, as the group’s newest member. But on the
night of the gathering, Amy doesn’t show. Not until Pamela finds
the woman dead outside—a knitting needle stabbed through the front
of her handmade sweater . . .

Someone
committed murder before taking off with Amy’s knitting bag, and
Pamela realizes that only she can spot the deadly details hidden in
mysterious skeins. But when another murder occurs, naming the
culprit—and living to spin the tale—will be more difficult than
Pamela ever imagined . . .

Peggy
Ehrhart is a former English professor who lives in Leonia, New
Jersey, where she writes mysteries and plays blues guitar. She holds
a Ph.D. in medieval literature from the University of Illinois and
taught writing and literature at Queens College, CUNY, and Fairleigh
Dickinson University, where she was a tenured full professor. Her
short stories have appeared in Futures Mystery Anthology
Magazine, Crime and Suspense, Flashing in the Gutters, Spinetingler,
Crime Scene: New Jersey 2, and Murder New York Style. A longtime
member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, Peggy
served on the board of MWA New York as head of the Mentor Committee.
She was president of Sisters in Crime NY/TriState from 2013 to 2015.
Peggy regularly attends mystery writing conferences and participates
in conference panels and also gives talks on mystery fiction at
libraries in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey.

From
the author of The
Sisters, Texas Mystery Seriesand Forgotten
Boxes,
comes an intriguing new book series, the Spirits
of Texas Cozy Mysteries.

When
the tiny hamlet of Hannah, Texas goes up for auction, Hannah Duncan’s
fun-loving uncle sees it as the perfect gift for her thirtieth
birthday. After all, what’s more fun than a town bearing your own
name?

Nestled
in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, the ‘town’ isn’t much –
a dozen or less buildings in various stages of disrepair-but it
comes with a dedicated pair of caretakers, a menagerie of farm
animals, a surprisingly generous trust fund, enough stipulations to
make her head spin, and a handsome but maddening attorney to oversee
the handling of the estate.

Originally
a stagecoach stop, Hannah, Texas resolves around the historic and
rather charming Spirits of Texas Inn. The old inn
comes with a colorful past, the mystique of hidden treasure, loyal
guests who still book summer vacations there, and three surprise
residents: true spirits of the past, who didn’t cross over as
expected.

Now
Hannah has her hands full, coming to terms with her unexpected status
as an innkeeper, adjusting to life in the country, fighting her
attraction to attorney Walker Jacoby, plus dealing
with ghosts!

To
top it off, two fortune hunters arrive to search for the hidden
treasure, and they don’t care who stands in their way. They’ll
stoop to any means-including murder-to get their hands on the
legendary stash of gold.

Don’t
miss out on the excitement, right from the beginning. Book your visit
to Hannah, Texas today!

Becki
Willis, best known for her popular The Sisters, Texas Mystery Series
and Forgotten Boxes, always dreamed of being an author. In November
of ’13, that dream became a reality. Since that time, she has
published eleven books, won first place honors for Best Mystery
Series, Best Suspense Fiction and Best Audio Book, and has introduced
her imaginary friends to readers around the world.

An
avid history buff, Becki likes to poke around in old places and learn
about the past. Other addictions include reading, writing, junking,
unraveling a good mystery, and coffee. She loves to travel, but
believes coming home to her family and her Texas ranch is the best
part of any trip. Becki is a member of the Association of Texas
Authors, the National Association of Professional Women, and the
Brazos Writers organization. She attended Texas A&M University
and majored in Journalism.

Business
is booming at Yeast of Eden. But with a deadly mystery taking over
the seaside town of Santa Sofia, the Mexican bread shop can’t
possibly leaven a killer’s appetite . . .

For
once, Ivy Culpepper feels fulfilled. An apprenticeship at Yeast of
Eden has opened her world to time-honored baking techniques under
owner Olaya Solis’s guidance—as well as the freshest small-town
gossip, courtesy of chatty regulars known as the Blackbird Ladies.
Ivy even begins accepting that she and restaurateur Miguel Baptista
may never again rekindle their romance—despite the undeniable
tension between them . . .

But
she’s tied to Miguel again when his trusted produce supplier goes
missing. Old Hank Riviera’s financial troubles would make anyone
consider running away forever. And with his relationship woes, there
are plenty of people who might want to see Hank disappear. As Ivy,
with the help of her octogenarian sidekick, turns to the loose-lipped
Blackbird Ladies for leads, she soon finds herself caught in a web of
lies stickier than a batch of Olaya’s popular pastries . . .

The
indefatigable Winnie Archer is a middle school teacher by
day and a writer by night. Born in a beach town in California, she
now lives in an inspiring century-old house in North Texas and loves
being surrounded by real-life history. She fantasizes about spending
summers writing in quaint, cozy locales, has a love/hate relationship
with both yoga and chocolate, adores pumpkin spice lattes, is devoted
to her five kids and husband, and can’t believe she’s lucky
enough to be living the life of her dreams.

A
new amateur sleuth is on the case in the first book of this Cozy
Mystery novella series.

When
Kalina Greystone returns home to the small town of Ellesworth, MA in
the wake of her father’s passing to take over the family’s comic book
shop, she never expects to reconnect with her old flame, Detective
Christian Harper. But when elderly Mrs. Davies winds up murdered at
the annual Solstice Fair, Kalina can’t help but get swept up in his
investigation and solving the case. While Detective Harper runs his
investigation, she cozies up to the dead woman’s best friend, Mrs.
Grant, and learns that she and a third woman, Ms. Ellicott, might be
targets. Someone has sent them notes with the cryptic warning ‘Lying
is a mortal sin’. As Kalina digs deeper into the women’s shared
past, she unearths the perjury that sentenced an innocent man to
prison. After discovering Ms. Ellicott dead in her home, Kalina and
Detective Harper must race to unmask the killer before vengeance can
be sated.

Your
favorite amateur sleuth is back on the case in the second installment
of the Geeks and Things Cozy series.

Life
is looking good for Kalina Greystone. Geeks and Things is thriving
and she’s even rekindled her high-school romance with Detective
Christian Harper. But her world spins off-kilter when she finds her
high school best friend, Nadine Larrabee, huddled over her father’s
dead body.

Nadine
fears she’s responsible for her father’s death but doesn’t
remember details. As Kalina keeps close to the investigation–certain
her friend is no killer–a horrifying family history unfolds,
providing motive for the girl Kalina once knew. Refusing to believe
Nadine is capable of such an act, Kalina peels back the layers of
family drama to find the truth.

Kalina
Greystone is back for another small town, amateur mystery in the
third installment of the Geeks and Things Mystery series.

It’s
Thanksgiving in the small town of Ellesworth, MA and Kalina and her
family have gathered to celebrate the holiday—their first since her
father’s passing—but all is not well when Savannah Chase,
Jillian’s college roommate appears on their doorstep. She’s
distraught over her missing husband. She just knows something’s
happened to him. Despite knowing Chris wouldn’t approve, Kalina
keeps tabs on the investigation. After all, Savannah is like
family.

The
investigation takes a turn for the curious when Mr. Chase’s body is
found in a foreclosed house in a area ripe for commercial
development. Kalina and Chris soon discover that Thomas had recently
changed jobs, giving up real estate for debt collection. But who
would want him dead? The more Kalina digs, the more she finds herself
in the cross-hairs of a dangerous man. She and Chris must solve the
case before she becomes the next victim.

Your
favorite amateur sleuth is on the case in a new Geeks and Things Cozy
Mystery.

The
small town of Ellesworth, MA is abuzz with the upcoming wedding of
Kalina Greystone and newly promoted Police Captain Christian Harper.
But not everyone is thrilled for the happy couple. On the morning of
Chris’s promotional ceremony, they receive a shocking package—a
severed finger wearing an engagement ring! Under the guise of
last-minute wedding preparations, Kalina questions a local jeweler
who may have sold the ring adorning the finger. In fact, he’d sold
three such rings recently. When a second finger is sent to a local
reporter and the bodies of the victims are discovered near the beach,
Kalina knows there is little time left to find the third victim. But
why target these brides-to-be? After digging deeper, she uncovers a
startling connection between the players and must race to save the
woman who is the true target of the killer’s rage.

Your
favorite amateur sleuth is back for one last case in the final
installment of the Geeks and Things Cozy Mystery series.

Kalina
Greystone’s life has finally fallen into place. Now happily married
and eight months pregnant, she is ready to step away from sleuthing
and give all of her time to her family and Geeks and Things.
Unfortunately, sleuthing isn’t quite done with her. On a trip to
the cemetery to visit her father’s grave, she happens upon a dead
woman’s body. Video footage reveals the killer but the case takes
one bizarre turn after the next. The woman, Verona Maxwell, shares
fingerprints with Paige Fischer, a little girl who died over fifteen
years ago in a boating accident with her twin brother, Patrick. Or
did they? The killer looks an awful lot like Patrick. Having briefly
known the twins in her youth, Kalina searches their past in the hopes
of making sense of the present. But the more she digs, the darker the
reality becomes. Systemic abuse by Paige and parental neglect rise to
the surface, making her wonder if the past isn’t as buried as
everyone was led to believe.

Geek and Things, is a clean, cozy murder mystery that will keep you glued to its pages from beginning to end. I enjoyed the tale and the telling and found Geeks and Things the most entertaining book of its genre. The plot is strong and the timing perfect to keep you going to the next page. It is well written with a great line of characters. It’s a great book to have in any library, adult even YA.

Kalina Greystone takes over her father’s store…Geeks and things after his death. She has returned to her birthplace, the small town of Ellesworth, with a degree but without a husband. At the town annual Solstice Fair, a well-known old woman dies by poison. Her nephew witnesses the death and so she arrived there soon afterwards. Her keen attention to details spurred her into the middle of the investigation by none other than her old flame, Detective Harper.

Sarah
lives in Massachusetts with her fiancé. She is a licensed attorney
and spends her days combating employment discrimination as an
Investigator with the Massachusetts Commission Against
Discrimination.

She
is a self-professed TV junkie and in her spare time (what’s that?),
she runs a TV recap blog with her best friend (and sorority sister),
Jen. Sarah currently enjoys an array of TV shows including (but
definitely not limited to) Once Upon a Time, Blindspot, Chicago Fire,
Chicago Med, Chicago PD, Grimm, The Flash and Arrow. She is always on
the hunt for new shows to binge!

Poppy
McGuire has always been a curious soul, but it’s her life that’s
usually the topic of conversation in the small town of Sunset Ridge.
But now one of the town’s most important citizens has been found
murdered, and everyone’s life is suspect.

What
begins as a friendly wager with her old friend Officer Derek Hampton
soon becomes far more for Poppy, and she turns to Alex Montero for
help, but the enigmatic former Baltimore cop’s quiet way hides as
many secrets as each suspect they encounter.

Everyone
in Sunset Ridge has something to hide, but Poppy and Alex are
determined to uncover the identity of the murderer. They just have to
watch that they don’t become the next victims.

While
life in Sunset Ridge is quaint and charming during the day, what
happens after the sun goes down might shock the citizens of this
small town. Things are heating up in Poppy McGuire’s home town, and
it isn’t just the July weather.

Poppy
and her new partner Alex have their eyes opened to the realities of
Sunset Ridge after dark when a traveling salesman is murdered in his
room at the Hotel Piermont, a common destination for cheating spouses
on the outskirts of town. When they find out what he sells, the
mystery gets even more interesting.

Controversy
sells as much as sex, and nobody knows that better than the local
radio morning DJ who loves to talk politics. His shows enrage people,
but who hated Lee Reynolds enough to shoot him point blank and leave
him for dead in the woods outside of town?

Poppy
and Alex have no shortage of suspects and for once aren’t at odds on
who they like for the crime. But all is not well between the
partners. This time, murder has brought with it a new love interest
for Poppy, but Alex isn’t happy with this turn of events.

Poppy
and Alex come up against their toughest case yet, and they may never
be the same again.

When
someone close to both Poppy and Alex is found brutally murdered, all
the clues point to Alex as the killer. But Poppy knows in her heart
that her partner could never commit such a heinous crime. As the
evidence begins to mount against him, Poppy must race against the
clock to prove that the man she trusts with her very life isn’t the
murderer, even as everyone around her is convinced of his guilt.

But
if Alex isn’t the killer, who is? As the mystery unravels, the past
and present finally meet in Sunset Ridge.

Poppy
and Alex are back for another mystery in Happy Hour, the fifth book
in the Poppy McGuire Mystery Series!

Springtime
brings warm weather and murder to Sunset Ridge, and for Poppy, this
particular case strikes close to home.

Antiques
dealer Marcus Tyne is found dead in the front seat of his friend’s
car outside of McGuire’s after a Cinco de Mayo celebration, but at
first glance, there’s no reason why he’s dead.

Until
the coroner finds out he’s been poisoned.

When
a second man is poisoned, Poppy and Alex are thrust into a mystery
that threatens to tear them apart. While they struggle to solve the
case as their differences become more apparent, a murderer walks free
in Sunset Ridge and may have another victim in their sights.

In
the middle of a late summertime heatwave, a woman Poppy interviewed
for an article on paganism is found with a dagger buried in her chest
in the woods out near Alex’s house. Initially, Stephen and Craig are
given the case, but when Derek determines that this murder shouldn’t
be their first big case together, Alex and Poppy are brought in to
help.

But
Stephen has never liked Poppy, and tensions quickly begin to run high
between the two sets of partners. The Sunset Ridge police force can’t
afford to have infighting if they want to solve this case before a
fear of witches takes hold in town.

It
doesn’t take long before everyone reaches their breaking point and
Alex wonders if he will be a Sunset Ridge police officer for much
longer. Life is about to change for him and Poppy, but will that
change mean the end of his time in town?

For
three years, Poppy and Alex have worked together solving cases in
their small town of Sunset Ridge, first as just co-workers but later
as partners in nearly every sense of the word. Now they’re about to
take the final step and become husband and wife, but in the midst of
getting ready for what folks around town are calling the wedding of
the year, the murder of someone involved in the preparations makes
their plans go awry.

Samuel
Morrow, the kind man who has run Morrow’s Jewelers for over twenty
years, is found murdered in an apparent break-in, and there’s no
shortage of suspects who may have had a reason to kill him. Oddly
enough, something very valuable to Poppy and Alex is missing from his
store too. Is the theft connected to the murder?

As
they hunt for Samuel’s killer, carefully eliminating suspect after
suspect, they must juggle cake tastings and reception planning, as
all the while someone’s watching their favorite amateur sleuth. Will
Poppy and Alex solve the case and reach the altar, or will the killer
make their ever after far less than happy?

Anina
Collins has always loved a good mystery. As a child, her favorite
books were Nancy Drew books passed down from her grandmother, and as
she grew up, she moved on to Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle and their famous detectives. She currently lives in North
Carolina and writes her Poppy McGuire Mystery series.

The Poppy Mcguire Serie…The Eleventh Hour, is a really imaginative mystery that is entertaining and a great beginning to a mystery series. I enjoyed the reading and the tale. The twists and characters seem good and real. I would have enjoyed it even better if it was a bit more polish. Some repetitions and a few extra words here and there slowed down the reading a touch. Still I have a great time reading the Poppy Mcguire Serie…The Eleventh Hour. All and all it is good beginning story for a beginning author. I hope to see more from this author providing the books are a bit more edit.

Poppy Mcguire is a thirty something single woman living in an old fashion town who frown upon it. She has a nose to find details that the police over look and has a great instinct about people. When the murder of a wealthy woman shakes her sleepy town, everyone looks up to her to find who did it. All is well with the investigation until the past and future collides and she and her new friend are stuck in the middle. Old crushes, new friends and a killer that could be any of them are mingled and crossed through the pages of this tale.

When
Tess Tremaine starts a new life in the colorful town of Goose Pimple
Junction, curiosity leads her to look into a seventy-five-year-old
murder. Suddenly she’s learning the foreign language of southern
speak, resisting her attraction to local celebrity Jackson Wright,
and dealing with more mayhem than she can handle.

A
bank robbery, murder, and family tragedy from the 1930s are pieces of
the mystery that Tess attempts to solve. As she gets close to the
truth, she encounters danger, mystery, a lot of southern charm, and a
new temptation for which she’s not sure she’s ready.

Goose
Pimple Junction is just recovering from a kidnapping and a murder,
its first major crimes in years, when trouble begins anew. Life is
turned upside down in the quirky little southern town with the
arrival of several shifty hooligans: A philandering husband intent on
getting his wife back, another murderer loose in town, a stalker
intent on frightening Martha Maye, and a thief who’s stealing the
town blind of their pumpkins, pies, and peace. Together, they’re
scaring the living daylights out of the residents and keeping the new
police chief busier than a set of jumper cables at a redneck picnic.
Suddenly, he has his hands full trying to apprehend a killer, stop a
stalker, and fight his feelings for the damsel in distress.

This
is not your average Southern town. With a hint of mystery and a lot
of laughs, you’ll catch a glimpse of everyday life in Goose Pimple
Junction in this short story compilation. Five short stories, one
novella, and three recipes will give you more of the unique charm of
Goose Pimple Junction, make you laugh, and have your mouth watering.
If you want a feel-good read, you’ve come to the right place. Grab
some sweet tea and escape to Goose Pimple Junction.

Sweet
Southern belle Caledonia Culpepper and hit woman in training Wynona
Baxter come up against crooked lawyers, restless husbands, a teenage
hoodlum . . . it seems there are rogues and rascals everywhere you
look in Goose Pimple Junction. When their paths cross, they prove
there isn’t a rogue or a rascal who can keep a good woman down. Mama
always said there’d be days like this . . .

Amy
Metz is the author of the Goose Pimple Junction mystery series. She
is a former first grade teacher and the mother of two sons. When not
writing, enjoying her family, or surfing Pinterest, Amy can usually
be found with a mixing spoon, camera, or book in one hand and a glass
of sweet tea in the other. Amy lives in Louisville, Kentucky and
loves a good Southern phrase.